Old School Paint Job on our 1961 MCI

[Bus Riders]

    Painted our 1961 MCI Bus this summer. I will post pictures first then talk about the paint job.

[Bus Riders]

   More Pics

[Bus Riders]

   More Pics

[Bus Riders]

   Front Picture

[Bus Riders]

   I painted the bus this summer, it took 2 months after work, weekends and long hours. I used a urethane primer and a metallic urethane one step paint. The metallic green glitters in the summers sun and looks darker after sunset. I am a huge Saskatchewan Roughrider football fan and that is the colors and logo on the bus. Also this this is my username "Bus Riders". First the roof was sanded and painted. Also having to mask off the side and cover with plastic. The white color was masked and covered so I could paint the green sides, front and back. When the white was painted the green was covered. I painted a black 1 in strip between the white and green to cover up the over lay. I had lots of help and my buddys shop to work on the bus and park it in after painting. I did paint it out side on nice days. It turned out great as this was the first time I painted.  It is great satisfaction to say I painted the bus..
     My honey and I took it to Saskatchewan this summer to Candle Lake. On the road there people were taking pictures, waving out the windows and honking horns as they passed us on the highway. It was great and I didn't paint if for that reason to get attention but it does stick out in a crowd.

[Iceni John]

That's a beautiful bus.   I think a lot of vehicles from that time just looked right.   My friend's 1966 Hewlett-Packard Crown is also quite similar, and that's also a handsome bus:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGFreWF_Nq4 

John

[brmax]

That is really sharp, and I can imagine lots a sanding n prep work.
hey thanks for posting the pics


Floyd

[Bus Riders]

    Prep work is a big part of what the final product will look like. The hundreds of rivets on this year of bus was fun sanding around. They do stand out nicely when painted.   

[Dreamscape]

She sure is purdy, well done! 

I know what it takes to do one, I've done ours twice. It's a lot of work but worth it in the end!

[Beachfinn]

Most Awesome!
I cant even imagine painting a whole bus, as ive done smaller pieces. What was your dry time between coats?

Sami

[Bus Riders]

     I painted the bus on mostly sunny days and little or no wind. I had big areas to paint so by the time I filled the paint gun a few times and went around the bus the paint was already for another coat. I really enjoyed putting on the primer coats, it covered so good. The paint itself was thinner and you really had to watch so you didn't get runs. I did get a couple runs that I sanded out later and touched them up. I saw a few insects land on the paint but if I try find that spot now you would never now. The job was not 100 percent professional but it does look good going down the highway at 60 miles and hour.

[Astro]

I spent 40 years in aircraft assembly, specializing in paint and corrosion protection.  You took on an enormous task and by what you describe and what you said, you did good. It looks great and you should be proud. It is a tough, physical task, paint is not cheap and it takes dedication and stamina to pull it off. Great job. I like it.

[Jim Eh.]

After this year's Banjo Bowl, did you drive through Manitoba late at night? Very, late! .... j/k
I have family in Saskatchabush and I am usually on the receiving end after the bowl  
Great job on the paint works. Any special paint gun to use with the metallic paint?

EDIT: Wait a minute ... is that an Alberta plate I see on the back?

[Stormcloud]

Nice job!  Friends of ours in Winnipeg also have an MCI 2.

Next time you are headed east to Manitoba, we have a spot for overnighters in our yard. Power,water, WiFi...just outside of Brandon along #1.

How about them "Blue Bombers!!"   

[lostagain]

I like the air intake on the roof, not as dusty up there.

JC